1) Jones should pick his battles

One minute Eddie Jones is using the media to put pressure on opposition captains and fly-halves, the next he is criticising those whom he perceives are giving insufficient credit to himself and some of his players. “You guys tell me Mike Brown can’t play Test rugby … you guys are unbelievable!” he told his BBC 5 Live’s Chris Jones after Saturday’s narrow 12-6 win over Wales. “You’re always criticising him and now he has a good game you’re all on the bandwagon. You guys are better selectors than we are, that’s what you think you are.” Given England have lost only once in more than two years since he took charge, it is increasingly hard for anyone to fault Jones’s judgment. If playing a few ‘mind games’ and keeping reporters on their toes helps England win more regularly, so be it – however, this might just be a good moment to give prickly Uncle Eddie a rest and consider mounting a charm offensive. Robert Kitson

• Match report: England 12-6 Wales
• Andy Bull: England’s fingertips prove decisive in brawl in a squall

2) Wales had hint of moral victory in defeat

Given their long injury list and the late disruption caused by the withdrawal of Leigh Halfpenny, defeat held a hint of a moral victory for Wales. With the wet weather, a back three who had minimal Six Nations experience and the accuracy of England’s kicking game, it was an achievement to be in with a chance of victory in the final minute. The closeness of the outcome was not what Eddie Jones expected, which perhaps explained his terse print interviews and waspish broadcast ones as he deflected attention. Wales ultimately paid for their early idealism but they are stirring, have no fear and will take it to Ireland next week. Paul Rees

• Gatland says ‘terrible mistake’ by TMO cost Wales against England
• Gerard Meagher: Patchell fails to hit the heights against England

3) Scotland will be quietly chuffed

Perfect preparation for the ‘Big One’, you might say. Scotland return to winning ways but without convincing quite enough to set any alarm bells ringing south of the border – at least not among the general populace. In other words they will welcome England to their lair without too much in the way of general expectation – just how they like it. Quietly, they will be chuffed with their fitness, as ever, but also the scrum, which looked comfortable against France. The ability to slow things down occasionally remains elusive but against England they will probably put their faith in the manic and brilliant anyway. Michael Aylwin

• Match report: Scotland 32-26 France

4) France need to look at discipline and fitness

France’s search for a win will stretch into a ninth match when they host Italy in Marseille in the next round And the last win was not exactly conventional, that extraordinary 100-minuter against Wales at the end of last year’s championship, where minds and allegedly protocols were bent every which way. France are finding their feet under the latest new management. These two defeats are hardly shameful but patterns are emerging. Discipline is an issue and fitness also looked to be one against Scotland. They will want to find joy in attack in more than just the channel and person of Teddy Thomas, scorer of all three of their tries so far. MA

• Scotland 32-26 France: Six Nations – as it happened

5) Injuries may give Ireland youngsters a chance

Conor O’Shea cut to the heart of it when asked if Ireland could win the Six Nations – depending on their injuries was effectively his take and Joe Schmidt was certainly counting the cost of his side’s comfortable win in Dublin, with Robbie Henshaw and Tadhg Furlong now sidelined. With these particular injuries, however, Schmidt has a couple of youngsters to call upon and that has been what he has been striving for since the 2015 World Cup. Andrew Porter can fit in seamlessly on the tighthead and Garry Ringrose may just benefit from the first fallow week of the tournament and make a return against Wales. Sean O’Brien, too, may be available. Ireland were the side least afflicted by injuries before the start of the tournament and, even without Henshaw and Furlong, it is hard to see them being beaten before they get to Twickenham. Gerard Meagher

• Match report: Ireland 56-19 Italy

6) Parisse more impressed by Ireland than England

Another resounding defeat for Italy and not even a four-try bonus point that looked certain to come their way until Keith Earls hunted down Mattia Bellini in the closing stages. If there was a predictability to it all, there was a surprise afterwards, with Sergio Parisse showing brutal honesty when asked to compare Italy’s two opponents so far – England and Ireland. “I think Ireland play much better rugby than England for me,” Parisse said. “It’s much more difficult to defend against them, for me. For me personally it was far more difficult against Ireland. I like the way they play. For me they play very good rugby; yeah, they are better than England.” We will find out on 17 March but it is always refreshing when someone in Parisse’s position says it how he sees it. GM

• Ireland 56-19 Italy: Six Nations – as it happened

7) Kildunne cements place for England in Women’s Six Nations

England will endure more difficult afternoons than their cakewalk against Wales on Saturday but there is no doubting that Ellie Kildunne’s stock continues to rise. The 18-year-old had already been making a number of ripples before the start of the Women’s Six Nations but against Italy she was excellent and, moving into outside-centre, against Wales she scored two superb tries – the second, England’s eighth, was one for the scrapbook. The head coach, Simon Middleton, spoke last year of how he wants young players to emerge to such an extent that those focusing on sevens, such as Emily Scarratt, struggle to get back into the side. Already it is hard to see anyone dislodging Kildunne. GM

• Women’s Six Nations match report: England 52-0 Wales